DALLAS _ Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya wasn't going to sugarcoat it _ facing the Blackhawks last season was weird for him and teammate Patrick Sharp.
It was especially odd when the Hawks and Stars met at the United Center in a preseason game last October when just a few months earlier the two were singing songs and chugging drinks to celebrate a Stanley Cup.
"You're catching yourself almost looking to change for the other team," Oduya said.
But now the battle lines have become more natural. The Hawks and Stars tangled sticks again Saturday night with the Hawks pulling out a 3-2 victory.
Sharp was not a part of this reunion, however, because of a concussion that has sidelined him since Oct. 20.
For Oduya and former Hawk prospect Stephen Johns, who came to the Stars in the trade that sent Sharp packing, facing the Hawks is the new normal in year two with the Stars.
"As it progresses, you feel like you're more and more part of the team here," Oduya said. "It takes a month or two or three maybe before you get acclimated. Obviously have a lot of friends and people you know on the other side. Usually it makes for a better battle and makes you want to win more."
The Stars got the better of the Hawks in those meetings last season, posting regulation victories in four of the five games.
The Blackhawks got off to a good enough start Saturday, scoring just 11 seconds into the game when Richard Panik stuffed home a rebound chance in front of goaltender Antti Niemi. It was just three seconds slower than the fastest goal in Hawks history, which came from Brent Sutter on Feb. 5, 1995.
But from there the Stars controlled much of the action in the first period. They scored their first goal at 7:21 when Brett Ritchie fired home a shot from the slot that goalie Corey Crawford got a pad on before it went into the net.
The Stars kept up the pressure and scored again at 9:49, this time when Curtis McKenzie put home a loose puck amid a sea of bodies in front of Crawford.
The Hawks answered in the second period. During a delayed penalty, Tyler Motte clanged one of the post, but the puck deflected to the right circle, where Ryan Hartman was waiting for it. Hartman shot one past Niemi at 2:59 to tie the score 2-2.
The Hawks took the lead on the power play later in the period when Artem Anisimov fed Patrick Kane for a goal. Anisimov had the puck in front of Niemi and attracted the attention of all four Stars on the ice. He slid a pass over to an uncovered Kane, who buried the shot at 7:40. It was Kane's fourth goal of the season while Anisimov, who entered the night leading the NHL in points with 14, recorded a point for the 10th consecutive game, a career high.
